American Classic Fauntleroy Blouses: Chronology--The 1900s

Figure 1.--The children are unidentified. They look to be about 1-5 years old. The portrait is undated, but the olive green mount color suggests it was taken in the 1900s decade. The boys wears a fairly standard Fauntleroy blouse with some eyelet lace. Notice the large floppy bow, these bows began to decline in size after the turn-of-the 20th century. The studio was Matzen & Co. in Omaha, Nebraska. Click in the image for a fuller discussion.

We see still see some of the classic Fauntleroy blouses being worn in the 1900s decade. We commonly see these fancy Fauntleroy blouses up to about 1905-- a full 20 year period from when Mrs Burnett published her book. This was essentially the end of the Fauntleroy Craze, although Fauntleroy styles would continue to have an influence for some time. We continue seeing ruffled collars. What lace we see is mostlyn eyelet lace, niot trueb lace. We see the popularity declining by the turn of the 20th century and most notably by about 1905. Not only do we see fewer boys wearing the fancy blouses, but increasingly younger boys as well. And they were more likely to be worn without the accompanying cut-away jackets. In additiin the number of boys with ringlet curls also decklined. These blouses were very common during this period, probably more common than the full Fauntleroy suit. By the end of the 1900s decade we see these blouses becoming notably less elaborate and the size of the floppy bows which often went with the blouses declining in size. An exception to his was a style for older boys up to younger teens. It was a less elaborate, often colored or striped Fauntleroy blouse which had a larger trimmed Fauntleroy collar with a back flap. We see it being won as a dressy garment when a jacket was not being worn during the summer. They were commonly noy wirn with the floppy bows by the older boys.

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Created: 12:17 PM 8/26/2024
Last updated: 6:21 PM 8/27/2024